Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Visit Paris on a Segway


I don't know if you've already tried a Segway, but if you come to Paris you'll be able to. Not only can you take a 10 minute ride for 10 € in a "Segway school" but you can also rent one for the day (55 €) and "drive" through Paris at your convenience. It takes a little time to feel comfortable on these machines, but it's a real nice way to discover the streets of Paris without having the hassle of finding a parking space. I took this photo on the Embankment right by the Eiffel Tower, but apparently it's a different company from this one that I found on the Web and that does exactly the same.

24 comments:

  1. Looks kind of fun. Futuristic, all having our own little vehicles which fit and touch barely around our person. Seems a little lazy though. Are they stable? Hold my hand, Eric?

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  2. It must be practical but in my opinion walking in Paris is one of the best things to do ever, it's a real delight! So I think I'll pass.

    The verb 'flâner' is there to prove my point!

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  3. I have taken the Fat tire bikes tours around Paris, not their segway tours as yet. It is a real testimonial to this company if an older woman, with no sleep on a plane, can do a bike tour after resting for only 4 hrs after arrival, AND can bike around Paris AND have the BEST time ever. That is a real testimonial to this company .Run don't walk to do their tours. Hopefully, I will be able to make time to do their segway tours one day.

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  4. I fear I would take a major face-plant into the pavement if I dared to get on one of these things. I'm with Monica - let's walk! (in cute shoes, of course :) )

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  5. At the risk of sounding negative, people look like idiots on those things.

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  6. They may look dodgy but I could have used one last time I visited Paris - I remember sitting in the gutter with my blistered feet,telling my family to "Go on, leave me here to die!" I then had to buy a pair of very expensive hiking boots to get me through the rest of the week.
    Bring them on!!!!

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  7. i have taught about 4,000 people to ride the Segway. Literally every person I have trained has commented either: "Cool," "Sweet." "Fantastic," etc.People who comment that Segway riders look like idiots are rather idiotic themselves. What separates the Segway rider from the rider of a bicycle, roller blades, a skateboard, or... whatever! I suspect the Segway critic has never ridden one. Incidentally, I have trained everyone from a four-year-old (supervised, of course), to a ninety-one-year-old man to ride the Segway. They are VERY EASY to ride. You do not have to be a circus star or an athlete to ride one. If you can walk, you can ride a Segway.

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  8. Yeah, Luggi, they do look like penguins, but don't kick it until you try it, I guess?

    I'm with jules png. Last time I was in Paris, I wanted to do get around to so many places in so little little time and by the third day of endless walking my feet could absolutely no longer carry me. I'm not joking, it's absolutely true! We (in the States) just don't realize how much walking we're donna do in Paris (forget cute shoes, you're gonna need GOOD shoes, believe me!)

    Anyway, a I was shuffling across Pont Alexandre III to try to get a get a better picture of something (beautiful bridge, for sure, but pretty damn long if your feet hurt!) I saw these guys roll right past me.

    The group of people on Segways were for the most part American tourists who could no longer walk either and had elected to just go ahead and spend the money so they could keep enjoying the scenery instead of sitting somewhere with their feet up.

    And, by the way, we have Segways in San Francisco, too. :)

    good night, everybody

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  9. Oh, what the heck, here you go: For Segways in Paris click here Good night.

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  10. No, actually they do look pretty silly, but that might just be because they're unusual, and I'm sure it would be great fun too!

    Mind you, I've seen at least one woman take a pretty spectacular full-frontal splatting from one of these, and I don't quite understand how they can be stable, but I think they're a great idea.

    I run photo tours in Paris and this wouldn't really work for us where you need to be extremely mobile and have your hands free all the time, but I'll definitely try one given the chance! Great how your pics stimulate discussion Eric!

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  11. This is just a wonderful innovation ! Truly, how can one still "walk" today ? We're in the XXIst century after all. Give up thoses silly legs, le cul-de-jatte est l'avenir de l'homme !"

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  12. Jules isn't it awful when your feet blister and give up under so much walking. I loathe it, that's why these look kind of attractive ... until.. i read....

    Paris Set Me Free: "I've seen at least one woman take a full-frontal splatting" OMG! That sounds positively dreadful. How do you mean exactly? The whole thing overbalances forward as i imagined? ohhhhh. Brrr.

    Monica: You're not here yet but ...... i beat you!! Spotted Michael in Adelaide today. he he.

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  13. Ha. Just seen pomp and circumstance in Paree on tv Eric; know what tomorrow's post will be - can't wait!

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  14. I think people riding on those look silly as well. Just like people riding bikes in those awful spandex biker outfits look silly. Doesn't mean it's not cool or useful, though! I thnk segways are an awesome invention. It'll probably make us all a bit more lazy then we already are. I think I'll stick to walking, thanks. I'd like to try my hardest to not find another way to avoid exercise!

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  15. fascinated, am always wondering how does this stuff works... how does driver keep balancing when stopped ?? i know my question sounds stupid, but if somebody here knows about it and tell ? just by curiosity :S

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  16. I agree Michelle, I, too, wonder how ot works.

    Lynn. You're right but... don't expect too much, you have no idea how hard it was to take today's (well tomorrow's) picture !

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  17. It seems like "something" just isn't right when I see these things going about. It doesn't seem possible. I think the photo proves it is.

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  18. It looks like some contrivance taken out of a scifi movie. I love gadgets and technology so as you can guess I have enjoyed your Paris "public transport" post.

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  19. Eric: Oh no don't worry at all i know how hideous those scrums are! I thought after i'd typed it in fact, maybe he couldn't even get one! Anything will be fun from you Eric. YOu declined to say whether you'd be holding my hand on that lethal thing though....?....;)

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  20. carlos, maybe the idea was in part taken from a sci-fi movie or show. Lots of inventions we have these days have to thank science fiction (at least in part, anyways)! Lord knows how many sc-fi geek scientists have been inspired by Star Trek, for instance. (I know if I was a scientist I'd totally be trying to figure out how we could make all kinds of working gadgets that come from my fave sci-fi shows!)

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  21. I've never been on a Segway, though it's possible to rent them here as well. It is an added transportation option, and so it's good. Expensive option, true.

    If they stop walking and ride Segways instead, I suspect French women would get fat after all! As for tourists like me, I love walking Paris. (And I always need to tighten my belt one notch by the third day.)

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  22. It would be cheaper to buy one than rent at those prices. I dodged a few of those Segways in the Marais. I would love to travel around in Paris with one but I am afraid I might hit someone. They do fascinate me! But then everyone knows Johnny is easily fascinated.

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  23. I've seen some of those Segway here in Sausalito, where I work. Tourist are cruising around on those machines...
    It must be fun. But now where du you park your Segway, if you want to stop by a café get a drink with your friends all in Segway. Is there an alarm system?

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